CITY FACTS:
AREA: 1.351 square miles
POPULATION: 3,200
INCORPORATED: 1895
FOUNDERS: Pioneer families (who originally named it Ekins)
NAME: Named after the Scottish birthplace of William Reid, creator of the Oregonian Railway.
Dundee is home to four of Oregon’s largest wineries and has gradually been transforming into a truly wine-centric community.
The town now claims more than a dozen tasting rooms, representing wineries both local and from as far away as the Walla Walla Valley, the Columbia Gorge and Southern Oregon.
The urban wine scene is accelerated faster in Dundee than any other community in the Valley, causing some to believe it won’t be too long before the total number of wineries and tasting rooms reaches triple digits. Construction of the Newberg-Dundee Bypass (opening fall 2017) will also alleviate congestion while spirring growth for a community long hampered by a beach-access highway cutting through its downtown core.
Recreation enthusiasts also have a haven in Dundee. The Chehalem Paddle Launch (open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. in summer), located on the channel formerly used as a log-raft site near the middle of Ash Island, allows locals and visitors to enjoy the beauty of the Willamette River. Wine and recreation combine often in the Dundee Hills, where you can tour through the region on bicycles (beware of some steep climbs, however) or hike along one of the system of trails revealing spectacular views of the valley.